Guide to British Music of the 1960s
April 2002
CD Review
The Animals - The Most of the Animals
Another Animals hits compilation? Maybe. However, this CD should be present in every record collection as it demonstrates not only that Newcastle's Animals were one of the hottest British R 'n' B bands of the mid-1960s but also that they produced some of the finest singles of the era.
The House of the Rising Sun is perhaps the best known and retains its place in the rock history books. It remains the staple diet of many an aspiring guitarist but it also broke the three minute barrier for the pop single. The guitarist Hilton Valentine was one of the most underrated and innovative players of his time as demonstrated not only on this track but also on other such as Baby Let Me Take You Home, Don't Let Me be Misunderstood and It's My Life (a personal favourite). Eric Burdon was an incredible vocalist with a voice that must have come from the Deep South (of USA) not the Cold North (of England.) The other principal distinguishing feature about the Animals was the organ of Alan Price and, later, Dave Rowberry. For many it is Price's organ break that is the high point of the opening track, for others it will by the pumping organ during I'm Crying.
The early singles took Bob Dylan tracks (or tracks made familiar by Dylan) and took them places even Dylan hadn't dreamed about. The House of the Rising Sun is the prime example here. It started as a traditional folk song then Dylan played it before the Animals arrangement gave them "ownership" of the track. In fact, the arrangement credited to Alan Price caused a level of friction in the group when it came to distributing royalties! Baby Let Me Take You Home also started as a Dylan track, Baby Let Me Follow You Down. Again the Dylan track has been based on an older song, Baby Don't You tear My Clothes.
The Animals did make some classic singles but this collection also demonstrates that they are worth investigating beyond this. Roadrunner is a standard that is made unique through Hilton Valentine's use of scraping the guitar plectrum along the E string, quite spine-chilling. Club A Go Go pays homage to the Club A Go Go in Newcastle where the Animals played many of their early gigs. I'm Gonna Change the World is a powerful track that brings Valentine's guitar to the fore again while allowing Burdon full vocal expression.
There is nothing on this compilation that is totally new but the CD is an essential piece of 1960s British musical history containing a raft of classic singles. An ideal introduction to the Animals for those who don't already have the tracks.
EMI Gold 7234 5 38296 2 9
Essential Tracks:
- The House of the Rising Sun
- We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place
- Baby Let Me Take You Home
Track Listing:
- The House of the Rising Sun
- We've Gotta Get Out of This Place
- Roadrunner
- Let The Good Times Roll
- Hallelujah I Love Her So
- I'm Gonna Change the World
- Bring It Home to Me
- Worried Life Blues
- Baby Let Me Take You Home
- For Miss Caulker
- I Believe To My Soul
- How You've Changed
- Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
- It's My Life
- Club A Go Go
- I'm Crying